Dorian Finney-Smith may not be leading the Nets in points or rebounds, but he most certainly is. And it will bring him back for the first time since before Thanksgiving.
The veteran forward is off the injury report and said he plans to play in Sunday's matinee game against Milwaukee after missing the past four games with a sprained left ankle.
“It's a long season. No one's really 100 percent, so I think everyone's going to have some nagging and bumps and bruises, but I feel better and I'm ready to play.” [Sunday]'' Finney-Smith said. “Yes, no questions. You know I'm playing.”
Finney-Smith practiced for the second straight day after missing six of the past seven games with an ankle injury suffered during a Nov. 11 shootaround.
Nets coach Jordi Fernandez talked about the need to protect Finney-Smith from himself because of his willingness to play that gets him injured. It was a delicate balance — especially since Finney-Smith is old at 31 years old.
“Well, I'm not old,” Finney-Smith laughed. “People now think 31 or 30 is old, so don't do that. It's not old. You're only 30, so your body isn't the same. You have to take care of it. Sometimes you have to listen, but sometimes instead of listening, you let your body tell you what it wants to hear.
“It's a tough battle. They say I'm already old. My body needs a little more time to recover. I'll lace up my shoes and go out and everything will be fine as before. I can't think so.
“But I appreciate it. Like, coach, we came into the game in the fourth quarter and he was like, 'Enough, Do?' It's hardly moving. ” I’m like, “Well, you better not take me out of the game.” I just want to win and do well for my teammates.”
Finney-Smith's teams are better with him being there for them, leading, defending, and even spacing the floor.
Nets sources often refer to him as the big man in the room, and Trendon Watford once called him Mr. Positive. His influence is just that.
“Doe brings toughness and veteran leadership to any team,” Watford said. “That's what made him famous, just being a leader and being a tough guy and being a knockdown shooter and a lockdown defender. We're excited about what Doe brings every night. I know that and can definitely take advantage of that.”
clearly. Brooklyn is plus-56 with Finney-Smith on the floor, by far the best on the team.
The next closest thing is plus 10. During his recent absence, the team has dropped three of those games and led by at least 23 points in two of them.
In fact, the worst three losses (26 points, 25 points, 23 points) were all due to Finney-Smith's absence.
Their three biggest wins (13, 13, 10 points) all came with him starting. There is a cause and effect relationship.
“If you have toughness, character, experience and trust, you can go on forever and ever,” Fernandez said. “He means a lot to the group. For us as coaches, we feel very comfortable having him on the court and having him perform. His presence is very important, both on the court and on the bench. And his teammates feel the same way. We will be very happy to have him back when he is able to play actively again.”
Finney-Smith is having his best season statistically since arriving in Brooklyn, averaging 10.7 points and 4.3 boards while shooting 46.7 percent from deep and 42.2 percent from deep.
His 3-point percentage is a career high, as are his 3-pointers made (2.3) and 3-pointers made (5.5).
“The staff, the team, everyone. [is] I was criticized when I turned down shots and when I wasn't aggressive,” Finney-Smith said. “It feels so good when your team trusts you that much. Coach, he's telling my family, 'Hey, if he didn't shoot the ball…' So now my wife and I My mom and they are telling me, “The coach is telling me to shoot.'' That's why he sneaks into my house too. ”
Noah Clowney (ankle) is questionable after missing the past six games.
